Expert Après-Ski Tips: Essential Gear and Top Destinations

Know your etiquette and get ready to mingle with your fellow snow-lovers.

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Jillian Dara

As any longtime skier knows, it’s not uncommon to start the ski day with a whole crew and end it with only a friend or two. Half the group wants to hit the moguls, the other half is feeling groomer laps, and there’s always someone waiting for everyone else to catch up. It’s almost always easiest to break up and choose your own adventure with plans to link up at the end of the day.

That’s where après-ski comes into play. It’s the lazy, sun-soaked time of the day when friends reunite over drinks to tell tales of powder stashes found, ski bums met, and ski runs conquered. It’s a time to loosen your ski boots, check in with your comrades, and rehash your “epic” ski day (tall tales welcome). However, before you can fully enjoy that après-ski drink, it’ll help to know the ins and outs of this culturally imperative part of the ski day.

What Is Après-ski?

“Après-ski” is French for “after ski,” and it marks the shift from leg-burning ski runs to one-too-many drinks with friends, both old and new. Après usually gets going when the lifts stop turning (or any time after lunch) and finishes up around dinner time. It’s arguably just as important to ski culture as the act of skiing itself.

Depending on where you ski, you could find anything from PBR-fueled table dancing (in ski boots, no less) to sophisticated wine and charcuterie where the women are rocking the latest ski suits. However, a few things remain the same wherever you go: Everyone is sun-kissed and merry, and there will be plenty of ski stories and newly-forged friendships.

What Do You Wear to Après?

The best part about après-ski is that there is no dress code — even if you plan to end your day in a high-end wine bar. For the most part, people walk off the slopes with their skis slung over their shoulders and head straight to après; there’s no need to change clothes or freshen up. Moreover, it is the perfect place to show off any stylish ski gifts you’ve received. Drop your skis at the ski rack out front or pony up for a ski locker to stash your gear while you enjoy a cold one with your fellow powder hounds.

And since you won’t want to spend the next few hours in your goggles and helmet, you might want to tuck a hat and sunnies in your jacket pocket (or backpack) so you can hide out from the late afternoon sun without looking too ridiculous. If you’re not a skier, but you plan on joining the crew for an après drink, keep it casual — jeans, boots, a jacket, and a beanie (or toque, if you’re skiing in Canada) are all you need to fit right in.

Après-ski Dos and Don’ts

Like any culture, après-ski has its own list of dos and don’ts. Notably, your skis don’t belong inside the bar or propped up against your patio table. Instead, put them on the ski racks out front, or, if you’re worried about them getting snatched, drop them off at the ski valet, your hotel, car, or ski locker.

While the après-ski scene may be casual, your sweaty feet aren’t welcome. Consequently, even though almost everyone is dying to get their ski boots off, be ready to leave yours on if you wear them into the bar. It’s bad practice — and a smelly one — to ditch your boots and walk around in your ski socks. If you truly can’t wait, stash a pair of shoes in your ski locker or run to your hotel or car for a quick shoe swap.

Where Can You Find the World’s Best Après-ski?

Toasting after a day on the hill is a universal part of ski culture — it doesn’t matter where in the world you are. The tradition is said to have started in Norway in the mid-1800s but took off in the Alps in the 1950s. Today, it is recognized around the world, from Chamonix to Chile.

Chamonix, France

Located at the meeting point of France, Switzerland, and Italy, this sprawling resort has some of the best and liveliest après spots in the world. Toss back a drink on the terrace of Chambre Neuf inside the Langley Hotel Gustavia or visit the renowned La Folie Douce Hotel for a cocktail or two.

Aspen-Snowmass, Colorado

When it comes to skiing in Colorado, it’s hard to top the state’s most famous ski destination. With one lift ticket, you get access to four mountains spread between the towns of Aspen and Snowmass. For a more mellow, unpretentious take on the area’s roaring après scene, sip a beer and play a game of pool at Zane’s Tavern in Snowmass Village or order a margarita and tableside guac at Venga Venga. If you end your day in Aspen proper, head to Ajax Tavern in The Little Nell for a cocktail on the sun-drenched patio.

Portillo, Chile

It’s not surprising that Portillo, which was South America’s first ski resort, has some of the continent’s best après-ski spots. Therefore, when it comes to post-ski drinks, it’s hard to beat the deck at Tío Bob’s. Enjoy a drink, put up your feet, and enjoy the views.

St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria

Considered the ‘cradle of alpine skiing’ — local instructor Hannes Schneider pioneered the Arlberg Technique here more than a century ago — this Austrian village is known for putting on quite a show during après. Try to nab a table at the always popular MooserWirt or Krazy Kanguruh, which has been around since 1965.

Park City, Utah

You might not expect much of a party scene way out in Utah, but it’s a whole other world in Park City. This town — which is home to the largest ski resort in the United States — has a fantastic après-ski scene. Consequently, make a plan to end your day at the ski-in, ski-out High West Distillery.

Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia, Canada

Whistler Blackcomb is the largest ski resort in North America, and its après offerings are just as plentiful as the pistes. The rustic and long-running Dusty’s Bar & BBQ is the place to be at the end of the day (especially if there’s live music). Alternatively, you can enjoy a brew with a view on the patio of the Garibaldi Lift Co. Bar & Grill.

Alta Badia, Italy

You might have a hard time deciding when to end your day at this resort in the heart of the Dolomites, but we promise, the après scene is just as good as the skiing. In the village of Corvara, you can grab an aperitivo at Caffe della Posta or take it up a notch at L’Murin, a beer garden with a party vibe and unbeatable mountain views.

Queenstown, New Zealand

You could bar hop your way all over Queenstown after hitting the slopes of aptly named The Remarkables, but we recommend starting your après on the patio of The World Bar to enjoy the sun while it’s still shining. Then hop across Church Street for a drink at Rhino’s Ski Shack while you wait for the party to get going.